China requires Internet users to use your real name

(Cc) Hal Dick

The Chinese government issued new rules requiring Internet users to register with their real names to the ISP, and the legalization of contents or removing pages that are considered to contain “illegal information”. The measures were approved by Chinese lawmakers after a closed session of five days.

Although users can still use pseudonyms, but only if they give ISPs his real name, which could limit the space available on the Internet to express anonymous complaints about corruption or abuses of government.

According to the authorities the reasons for the adoption of these measures have nothing to do with censoring uncomfortable issues. The real name statement “ensure the security of information on the Internet, protect the legal rights and interests of citizens, legal entities or other organizations, and protect national security and public interest,” the regulation, according to which publishes the official Xinhua news agency.

Any entity that provides Internet access in China, whether fixed or mobile, should require real information about the identity of users. The move appears to be aimed specifically at mobile companies. In a press conference, a spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, insisted that only 70% of mobile phones were registered under a real name. The government has tried to block the way to buy a chip and a new phone anonymously. Buyers must identify with documents before making an international call, for example.

In addition to blocking websites, Chinese censors have redoubled efforts to block virtual private networks (VPNs) , which allow encrypt traffic and prevent it from being seen by the censors, and allows skipping the Great Firewall.